@Bill Peters - I would suggest being VERY cautious in working with people who request fees up front to simply complete an application, receive a pre-approval or do anything else.  

Guess I'd be more cautious if I did flips. 

I'd just be cautious about that.

While I am usually cautious about using leverage, the current interest rates of 4.5% make this a no brainer.

He did welcome a morning call the day of sale.Today, group of us interested waited all day and politely tried to reach this lawyer to see when he may show.From 2pm-4pm, about a dozen bidders lingered waiting, cautiously watching potential auctioneers .

Part of this is because of my market, and part of it is because I am a cautious investor and I think this is the safest way to invest.

Very interesting process, here the redemption period (3,6,or 12 months depending on situation) starts when the court gets a Judgment for foreclosure, and sheriff sale is after that time has run out, with toe courts confirming the sale at least 10 days after the sale. the borrower has until the confirmation to pay the balance owed. i go the the clerk of courts, pay the balance of my bid, he or she hands me  a signed Sheriff's Deed and a check fr the transfer fee, and I record it in the Register of Deeds office, as soon as i pay its legally mine, now in the time between sale and confirmation, there is an argument that you have a 10% interest, so sometimes people will change locks and such, i'm a bit cautious about that.

Yes, you have to watch for the rip off gurus and JV coaches that will take advantage of you, just like when buying a used car you need to be cautious.

As a newbie...it make sense to want a mentor, however, we obviously need to be very cautious of whom we attemt to trust.These forums are awesome and so very helpful.

Uncertainty is all around so they are cautious, as they should be.